Ogun communities dispute Eba Island oil rights
Two neighbouring Ogun State towns, Ode Omi and Makun Omi, are locked in a dispute over the ownership of Eba Island, a coastal area recently approved for commercial crude oil exploration. The conflict escalated after the Federal Government’s approval, with both towns asserting ancestral rights to the oil-rich location. The situation has drawn in traditional rulers, state officials, and even claims from the neighbouring Atijere community in Ondo State. Tensions are rising as stakeholders call for urgent government intervention to prevent unrest.
TLDR
- Ode Omi and Makun Omi both claim ancestral ownership of Eba Island, now approved for oil exploration.
- The Ode Omi Kingdom sent a letter dated January 28, 2026 to Governor Dapo Abiodun, protesting rival claims and warning of possible unrest.
- Oba Oshobia of Makun Omi also laid claim to Eba Island in a letter dated January 24, 2026, citing historical ties.
- The Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State, Oba Samuel Adeoye, insists Eba Island belongs to Atijere and warned against oil exploration without their consent.
- The Ogun State Government maintains that Eba Island is within its territory, citing official maps and federal approval, while urging calm and investigation to resolve the dispute.
